Smart Power State Department ends tumultuous day with stirring, relevant tweet

posted at 10:01 pm on July 17, 2014 by Mary Katharine Ham

I was going to add this as an update to my last post, but I have to give it more than that. Consider this a piece of evidence for Allahpundit’s theory that this White House is just going to stick to what it wants to talk about no matter what is happening in the world, no matter how tragi-comical it becomes from the outside. For years, tweets from @BarackObama have popped up in my Twitter feed so often so very detached from the actual events of the day as to feel like some kind of non sequitur performance art. This outdoes all of them.

This tweet is from the official State Department account, from Jen Psaki, at 9:26 p.m.*, hours after two huge international stories have broken. Now, the administration perhaps can’t be expected to react to the actual events at issue seriously. Too much to ask. But what they do sometimes react to seriously is a p.r. issue, and they’ve had many hours to realize everyone thinks they’re muffing this. Would it be so much to ask to keep it relatively sober tonight?

Maybe it’s time to take the semi- off of semi-retired. Today, the president had the opportunity to do the two things (maybe the only two things?) that are in his wheelhouse—respond to a tragedy with a decently written and serviceably delivered speech and react to a p.r. crisis in such a way as to spare him and his team immediate political consequences. He can’t even be bothered with either of those.

* The embedded tweet says 7:26 p.m. because I’m in the Mountain Time Zone.

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Check it out, the State dept. publishes it’s own shiney sheet little bs magazine. I have a copy of one edition of it. It contains no substantive foreign policy subject matter, but rather several articles about diversity, “equality”, etc. I shit you not. Just “social justice” type stuff.

That is why this jetliner avoided that region in all of its previous flight paths. Not sure why it didn’t do so this time as well.

sharrukin on July 17, 2014 at 10:40 PM

That flight path means it was under the control of Ukranian civilian air traffic controllers. Therefore, the Ukranian military wouldn’t mistake it for Russian.

Similarly, since it was about to transition to Russian airspace, the Russians shouldn’t have mistaken it for Ukranian. This has all the hallmarks of a local Russian commander taking matters into his own hands and shooting off his rockets without knowing what was actually up there.

The point is, the Ukrainians couldn’t have shot it down by mistake, since it was going the wrong direction, and they would have tracked it all the way across their own air space. The Russian “separatists” have whatever weapons the Russian military has decided to give them – and since most of them have been trained by the Russian military, they’d know how to use it. What they wouldn’t have, is access to a national radar system, so it would make far more sense that they’d mistake it for a Ukrainian military plane. Besides, they’ve already shot down several Ukrainian planes, so it’s clear they have the capability.

Nobody had any reason to shoot down a passenger airliner. If Ukraine did it, Putin would be pouncing. Planes emit an IFF (Identify/friend or foe)message continuously. If they had targeting and launch capability, but no IFF reciever…..

KCB on July 17, 2014 at 10:43 PM

It was probably an accident, but there are reasons that one side or another might carry out a shootdown. KAL007 is an example of a deliberate shootdown and Iran Air Flight 655 is an example of an accident.

It was probably an accident, but there are reasons that one side or another might carry out a shootdown. KAL007 is an example of a deliberate shootdown and Iran Air Flight 655 is an example of an accident.

That flight path means it was under the control of Ukranian civilian air traffic controllers. Therefore, the Ukranian military wouldn’t mistake it for Russian.

You assume a competence that the Ukrainians have NOT demonstrated in any of their military operations.

Similarly, since it was about to transition to Russian airspace, the Russians shouldn’t have mistaken it for Ukranian. This has all the hallmarks of a local Russian commander taking matters into his own hands and shooting off his rockets without knowing what was actually up there.

Steve Eggleston on July 17, 2014 at 10:47 PM

The SA-11/BUK has a range of about 30 km and the aircraft was at least 60 km from the Russian border. It couldn’t have been a Russian SA-11/BUK.

Its a tragedy any way you cut it, but I suspect someone shot it down. Its possible it was terrorism, but that seems to be the least likely scenario.

At this point I don’t think we even know its an SA-11/BUK that shot it down. Where did that information come from?

sharrukin on July 17, 2014 at 10:43 PM

My comment was sarcasm.

Right after it was announced that the airplane was shot down, the alphabets were reporting that it had “crashed.” No mention of its being shot down until they were forced to admit it, and the they were reporting that it had crashed after “apparently being shot at.” (Via CBS.)

obama’s opening statement at ahis Delaware presser where he went to hawk higher gas taxes indicated that he wasn’t sure if it was a tragedy.

Most probably it was a military strike rather than a planned terrorist attack.

The Buk scenario seems to be generally accepted at this time, but who can really know this early.

Like I said earlier, I go with Wag The Dog. The question then is, Who is doing the wagging? Putin or obama?

The point is, the Ukrainians couldn’t have shot it down by mistake, since it was going the wrong direction, and they would have tracked it all the way across their own air space.

ou assume a competence that the Ukrainians have NOT demonstrated in any of their military operations.

The Russian “separatists” have whatever weapons the Russian military has decided to give them – and since most of them have been trained by the Russian military, they’d know how to use it.

An SA-11/BUK isn’t like rifle or grenade training.

Thats like saying an American soldier is trained on American weapons so he could easily operate a Patriot missile system.

Its absurd.

Besides, they’ve already shot down several Ukrainian planes, so it’s clear they have the capability.

notropis on July 17, 2014 at 10:47 PM

They have MANPADS which can with difficulty reach about 6,000 meters. None of those systems can reach 10,000 meters which is the altitude of the jetliner. That is why the SA-11/BUK is the ONLY possible weapon that the rebels could have used. NONE of the others can do it.

The SA-11/BUK has a range of about 30 km and the aircraft was at least 60 km from the Russian border. It couldn’t have been a Russian SA-11/BUK.

sharrukin on July 17, 2014 at 10:50 PM

The BUK is road-mobile, and the Russians control that area. You also assume a competence that the Russians haven’t demonstrated in 31 years, and you assumed that I said it was fired from undisputably-Russian territory.

Something tells me MK isn’t publishing posts from an iPad. I could be wrong, but my limited experience with the WordPress publishing app for iOS/Android is that it is a PITA, especially when one has to copy and paste things.

There was also the claim (since scrubbed) from the Russian “separatists” that they shot down a “transport plane” at the same time the Malaysian jet went down, with that group earlier posting pics of them with the BUK system.

That is why this jetliner avoided that region in all of its previous flight paths. Not sure why it didn’t do so this time as well.

sharrukin on July 17, 2014 at 10:40 PM

That flight path means it was under the control of Ukranian civilian air traffic controllers. Therefore, the Ukranian military wouldn’t mistake it for Russian.

Similarly, since it was about to transition to Russian airspace, the Russians shouldn’t have mistaken it for Ukranian. This has all the hallmarks of a local Russian commander taking matters into his own hands and shooting off his rockets without knowing what was actually up there.

Then we are back to the few captured systems the rebels have. Assuming they are working. It just isn’t as cut and dried as you want it to be.

sharrukin on July 17, 2014 at 11:01 PM

At a minimum, Russian Spetznaz (supposedly ex-Spetznaz) are supplying and training the “separatists”. Of course, Russia has a history of declaring those “advisors” “ex-”military even though once they achieve Moscow’s objectives, they return to active duty in the Russian Army.

Telegraph: 01.03 Malaysia Airlines have moved to stress that the flight route taken by the plane that came down in Ukraine had been declared safe by the UN aviation arm, the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

Maybe it’s time to take the semi- off of semi-retired. Today, the president had the opportunity to do the two things (maybe the only two things?) that are in his wheelhouse—respond to a tragedy with a decently written and serviceably delivered speech and react to a p.r. crisis in such a way as to spare him and his team immediate political consequences. He can’t even be bothered with either of those.

On a more serious note… the Prez cares about on thing. Himself

….as to spare him and his team immediate political consequences.

if you don’t care about political consequences then you don’t have to respond as tho you do. He either is living in a fantasy world where he really doesn’t think his Presidency is ever going to end.. or he just doesn’t care.. or he has an alternate plan. The alternate plan being that somehow events or friends are going to make a way for his presidency to continue.

it’s either one of the three. Either he has not a freakin clue what he is doing.. or he just doesn’t care because he’s got 2 years and nobody is going to remove him.. or he’s got alternate plans to where public opinion won’t matter a hill of beans.

It doesn’t take a brainiac to figure this out. It’s one of three choices. You decide which makes you feel more comfortable with your life. Which choice makes you sleep a little easier at night.

Probably the Ukraine (55%) or Russia (40%). It could have been the rebels but operating a system like the SA-11/BUK isn’t the same as operating a tank. They could have done it, but it just seems to be the least likely.

I think it also might have been an aircraft missile rather than a SAM missile system.

I am suspicious of the absolute certainty that it was an SA-11/BUK without any reason given for that certainty.

I just thought it was “interesting” how you have no trouble speculating about something that you don’t know in the future (GOP)..But you are willing to “hold back” on the plane crash..Sounds like you should go to Vegas??!!??..:)

For the record, I believe it was the local Russian commander firing without going up the chain of command or checking the IFF (something that is not part of the crash course on operating radar-guided SAM systems). Wouldn’t be the first time it happened, and unfortunately, it won’t be the last.

The State Department cannot be expected to be more diligent or serious than the President it serves. More than any other department of government, the decision-makers are all his appointees. What they do or do not do are at his direction.

Why anyone bothers to attend State Department briefings anymore. Sure, Jay Carnie and Josh Earnest lie their butts off, too, but they make a constant effort to make it sound at least somewhat plausible. Psakis and Harf just spout outrageous lies and act offended if questioned on them.

~~

There was a big moment in the Middle East shortly after Kerry became SoS. It might have been the crisis in Egypt where Morsi was deposed by the Army. Psakis stood at the podium and assured the press that Kerry was on the job and definitely NOT on his yacht at Nantucket.

Over the course of a couple of updates, she was again asked by reporters and repeatedly denied that Kerry was on vacation or on his yacht.

Then several tourists, including one vacationing journalist, Tweeted pictures of Kerry in boating attire boarding his yacht at the local marina in Nantucket, having a drink and a laugh with a few others on deck in plain sight. Even after these were posted, Psakis continued to deny it.

At a minimum, Russian Spetznaz (supposedly ex-Spetznaz) are supplying and training the “separatists”. Of course, Russia has a history of declaring those “advisors” “ex-”military even though once they achieve Moscow’s objectives, they return to active duty in the Russian Army.

Maybe one of the true international countries will step in and help. Like China or Russia since America is no longer that caring, shining city on the hill but just a rats nest of lies, destruction and willingness to see citizen killed without comment. And kids murdered, raped and enslaved to push a President’s agenda. The only important thing to him is patting himself on the back for things he really never had a part in doing, getting money or playing golf. Going on expensive vacations falls into this President wheel house also.

It is the embodiment of the Liberal non reality approach to everything. They have their theories and slogans and no amount of facts or consequences can change them. Mthatsmtruemfor global warming, gun free school zones and other gun control stuff, attacks on energy creators, the regulatory state, the stimulus, and the rest.

Then several tourists, including one vacationing journalist, Tweeted pictures of Kerry in boating attire boarding his yacht at the local marina in Nantucket, having a drink and a laugh with a few others on deck in plain sight. Even after these were posted, Psakis continued to deny it.

Bagdad Bob was more trustworthy.

Adjoran on July 18, 2014 at 12:42 AM

Baghdad Bob was more ENTERTAINING.

All Jen has going for her is cute. Her delivery sucks, and she lacks the ability to even make her lies plausible.

As an aside, Psaki’s tweeting about her White House friend leaving to be an editor at a women’s magazine. This is one more example of the Dem-media revolving door, and the progressive’s grip on the media and pop culture. She’s going there to pollute the minds of low info single women, who have become a vital demographic for the Dems. It’s been said that women’s fashion magazines are one of the most effective spreaders of Democrat BS.